ArticleBMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation2022
A randomized controlled clinical trial of the effects of range of motion exercises and massage on muscle strength in critically ill patients.
Article in BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
11 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 22 citations in OpenAlex.
- Korean clinical practice guidelines for rehabilitation in critically ill patients and post-intensive care syndrome.Acute and critical care · 2026Guideline
- Reporting of nutritional screening, status, and intake in trials of nutritional and physical rehabilitation following critical illness: a systematic review.The American journal of clinical nutrition · 2025Pooled it
- Guideline on positioning and early mobilisation in the critically ill by an expert panel.Intensive care medicine · 2024Guideline
- Korean Clinical Practice Guidelines for Rehabilitation in Critically Ill Patients and Post-Intensive Care Syndrome.Annals of rehabilitation medicine · 2026Article
- Respiratory Muscle Training in Mechanically Ventilated Adult Patients: Toward a Precise Prescription Based on Current Evidence: A Scoping Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Effect of Early and Progressive Rehabilitation Protocol on Fatigue, Functional Outcome, and Kinesiophobia in Patients on Non-invasive Ventilation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Indian journal of critical care medicine : peer-reviewed, official publication of Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine · 2025Article
- Stem cell therapy: A promising therapeutic approach for skeletal muscle atrophy.World journal of stem cells · 2025Review
- Current Rehabilitation Practices of Physiotherapists in Intensive Care Units in the UAE: A National Survey.F1000Research · 2025Article
- Maximizing hand function following zone II flexor tendon repair: A systematic review and meta-analysis of rehabilitation strategies.Journal of hand and microsurgery · 2024Review
- Effectiveness of massage and range of motion exercises on muscle strength and intensive care unit-acquired weakness in Iranian patients with COVID-19: a randomized parallel-controlled trial.Acute and critical care · 2024Article
- Effectiveness of Nurse-led Interventions on Pain and Complications among Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Unit: A Quasi-experimental study.Indian journal of critical care medicine : peer-reviewed, official publication of Indian Society of Critical Care MedicineArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAtrophy and muscle weakness is a common problem in critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Muscle weakness in severe cases can lead to tetraplegia, reduced or lost tendon reflexes, delayed weaning from mechanical ventilation, physical disability, and increased mortality. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of range of motion exercises (ROM) and massage on muscle strength of the patients admitted to ICUs.
methodsThis study was a single-blinded randomized controlled trial conducted in ICUs of Afzalipour hospital in Kerman, southeastern Iran. Ninety conscious ICU patients were randomly divided into three groups (massage, ROM exercises and control). The researcher/co-researcher massaged or did ROM exercises on the patients' extremities once a day for seven consecutive days. Using a hand-held dynamometer, the co-researcher, rated the muscle strength before, on the fourth and seventh days of intervention at 8 p.m.
resultsThe mean muscles strength of the right arm in the ROM exercise and massage groups increased by 0.63 kg, and 0.29 kg, respectively after the intervention compared with before the intervention. The muscle strength of the right arm in the control group reduced by 0.55 kg. The mean muscles strength of the left arm in the ROM exercise and massage groups increased by 0.61 kg and 0.28 kg after the intervention, respectively while it reduced by 0.56 kg in the control group. The mean muscles strength of the right leg in the ROM exercise and massage groups increased by 0.53 kg and 0.27 kg after the intervention compared with before the intervention while it reduced by 0.70 kg in the control group. The mean muscles strength of the left leg in the ROM exercise and massage groups increased by 0.54 kg and 0.26 kg after the intervention compared with before the intervention while it reduced by 0.71 kg in the control group.
conclusionThe results of the present study showed that ROM exercises and massage were effective interventions in increasing muscle strength of the critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units.
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